ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN

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1 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN UITGEGEVEN DOOR HET RIJKSMUSEUM VAN NATUURLIJKE HISTORIE TE LEIDEN (MINISTERIE VAN WELZIJN, VOLKSGEZONDHEID EN CULTUUR) Deel 61 no september 1987 ISSN REVISION OF THE EUROPEAN HELCONINI (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE: HELCONINAE) by C. VAN ACHTERBERG Achterberg, C. van: Revision of the European Helconini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Helconinae). Zool. Med. Leiden 61 (18), 23-ix-1987: , figs ISSN Key words: Braconidae, Helconinae, Helconini; keys; distribution; European; Helcon; Helconidea; Wroughtonia. The European genera and species of Helconini (Braconidae: Helconinea) are keyed and partly illustrated. The genus Helconidea Viereck, 1914 is excluded from the genus Wroughtonia Cameron, 1899, Helconidea meridionalis spec. nov. is described, and the remaining Palaearctic species of Wroughtonia are keyed. Lectotypes are designated for Ichneumon redactor Thunberg, 1822; I. distensor Thunberg, 1822; I. nunciator Fabricius, 1793; Pimpla dentator Fabricius, 1804; Helcon femoralis Thomson, 1892 and Helcon tardator Nees, Additional proposed combinations: Helcon angustator Nees, 1814 stat. nov. (Syn. nov.: Ichneumon redactor Thunberg, 1822; I. distensor Thunberg, 1822; Helcon lignator Lepeletier de St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1827; H. cylindricus Wesmael, 1835), Helcon nunciator (Fabricius, 1793) comb. nov. (Syn. nov.: Helcon pedalis Cresson, 1873; Helcon femoralis Thomson, 1892); Helconidea dentator (Fabricius, 1804) comb. nov. (Syn. nov.: Helcon armator Marshall, 1897); H. ruspator (Linnaeus, 1758) comb, nov.; Wroughtonia cornuta (Cameron, 1886) stat. nov. Finally a neotype is designated for Helcon angustator Nees, C. van Achterberg, Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. INTRODUCTION Despite the large size of European Helconinae (fore wing usually 6-11 mm) a reliable identification is far from easy with the existing keys. New keys are published here, in addition to the discovery of a new species in the genus Helconidea and of a cryptic species in the genus Helcon. The latter species * Abbreviations: BMNH = British Museum (Natural History), London; HC = Haeselbarth Collection, München; RMNH = Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden; ZSM = Zoologische Staatssammlung, München. 263

2 264 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) (Ichneumon nunciator Fabricius, 1793) was listed by Shenefelt (1978: ) as a species not assigned to any genus. It was described from Germany, so it is extremely remarkable that it remained nearly two centuries in obscurity, since the types are still extant and in reasonable condition. Helconini are (rather) large, possess a distinct lamella on the frons and the hind femur is partly rugose ventrally (Van Achterberg, 1983: fig. 1 A). They can be collected from recently cut wood infested by wood-boring coleopterous larvae, especially those belonging to the Cerambycidae. A new record of a species for a country is indicated by an asterisk*. TRIBE HELCONINI FOERSTER Diagnosis. Frons with medial lamella or triangular horn (fig. 9); vein 1- SR of fore wing distinct (figs. 5, 25, 35, 40), occasionally obsolescent in some Helcon tardator specimens; vein 2A of fore wing distinct (fig. 40) and usually mainly unsclerotized (figs. 25, 35, 37); propodeal spiracle situated medially (fig. 1); outer apex of fore tibia with large and wide lamella (figs. 3, 30); hind femur partly rugose ventrally (figs. 10, 38, 39); inner hind spur shorter or subequal to outer hind spur and narrower (fig. 10). Contains three genera in the Palaearctic region: Helcon Nees, 1814, Wroughtonia Cameron, 1899, and Helconidea Viereck, Parasites of wood boring coleopterous larvae, belonging to the Cerambycidae, Buprestidae, Curculionidae, and Melandryidae (= Serropalpidae). KEY TO THE PALAEARCTIC GENERA OF THE TRIBE HELCONINI 1. Hind femur with a ventral tooth (figs. 36, 38, 40, 41) 2 - Hind femur without ventral tooth (figs. 10, 39) Helcon Nees 2. Marginal cell of hind wing distinctly widened apically (figs. 25, 40); occipital carina remains separated from hypostomal carina above base of mandible, but connected near apex of hypostomal carina below level of mandible base; antenna of 9 with white band; medio-posterior depression of scutellum wide and usually comparatively short (fig. 29); area in front of tegula with a more or less developed carina and crenulate; pronope deep and usually close to anterior margin of pronotum (fig. 27); hind tarsus whitish; propleuron flattened (except in Nearctic spp.) Wroughtonia Cameron - Marginal cell of hind wing (sub)parallel-sided or slightly widened apically

3 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 265 (figs. 35, 37); occipital carina connected to hypostomal carina distinctly above level of base of mandible (cf. fig. 17); antenna of 9 without white band; medio-posterior depression of scutellum narrower and longer (cf. fig. 13); area in front of tegula without carina and puct(ul)ate; pronope shallow, if deep then distinctly removed from anterior margin of pronotum; hind tarsus yellowish or dark brown; propleuron at least partly convex Helconidea Viereck Helcon Nees Helcon Nees von Esenbeck, 1814: 216; Shenefelt, 1970: Type-species: Helcon tardator Nees, 1814 (designation by Lepeletier de St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1827). Syn.: Gymnosceles Foerster, 1862; Edyia Cameron, 1905; Coelostephanus Kieffer, The types of all three type-species have been examined. Edyia Cameron is somewhat aberrant because of the marginal cell of hind wing, which is distinctly widened apically, and the distinctly bent vein SC + R1 of the hind wing. Coelostephanus Kieffer has also the marginal cell widened, but lacks the precoxal sulcus completely, the mesosternal groove is absent medially, the first metasomal tergite is smooth, and the prepectal carina is weakly developed. KEY TO EUROPEAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS HELCON 1. Antennal segments 34-37; antenna brown apically; marginal cell of hind wing somewhat widened apically (fig. 14); first metasomal tergite evenly widened posteriorly (fig. 23); length of fore wing mm; hind femur comparatively robust (fig. 39) claviventris Wesmael - Antennal segments 39-46, exceptionally 35-38; antenna black apically; marginal cell of hind wing parallel-sided apically (fig. 5); first tergite usually largely parallel-sided (figs. 11, 24) or somewhat widened (fig. 20); length of fore wing mm; hind femur less robust (fig. 10) 2 2. Tegula brownish, contrasting with largely dark brown humeral plate; maximum width of eye times length of malar space (fig. 17); first metasomal tergite robust (figs. 11, 24; 9: times its apical width, cf : times), with (rather) elevated dorsal carinae anteriorly; labial palp more or less infuscated; lateral carina of propodeum distinctly protruding dorsally as a lamella (fig. 1): propleuron rather convex (fig. 1) tardator Nees

4 266 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) - Tegula and humeral plate largely similarly coloured, brownish or yellowish; maximum width of eye times length of malar space (figs. 15, 16); first tergite (rather) slender (fig. 20; 9: times its apical width, cf : times), with dorsal carinae largely indistinct; labial palp (except first segment) yellowish or brown; lateral carina of propodeum at most weakly protruding as a lamella; propleuron strongly to moderately flattened (figs. 18, 19) 3 3. Occipital flange comparatively slender, times basal width of mandible (fig. 16); tegula (straw-)yellowish; propleuron moderately flattened (fig. 19) to rather convex; tooth of frons distinctly visible in lateral view of head (fig. 16); first metasomal tergite of 9 more robust, its length (- 1.7) times its apical width (cf : times), more or less widened apically (fig. 20); subbasal cell of fore wing of 9 at least partly regularly setose medially (fig. 34); maximum width of eye of times length of malar space (fig. 16; cf : about 1.7 times); length of malar space of times basal width of mandible (cf: times) nunciator (Fabricius) - Occipital flange robust, times basal width of mandible (fig. 15); tegula at least along inner margin brownish, sometimes both tegula and humeral plate dark brown; propleuron largely flattened (fig. 18); tooth of frons scarcely visible in lateral view of head (fig. 15); first tergite of 9 (sub)parallel-sided, its length times its apical width (cf : up to 2.1 times); subbasal cell of fore wing of 9 nearly glabrous, frequently with a medial row of setae, exceptionally sparsely setose medially (fig. 33); maximum width of eye of times length of malar space (fig. 15); length of malar space of times basal width of mandible (cf: times) angustator (Nees) Helcon angustator Nees stat. nov. (figs. 15, 18, 33) Helcon angustator Nees, 1814: 219. Helcon tardator p.p.; Shenefelt, 1970: Ichneumon redactor Thunberg, 1822: 273. Syn. nov. Helcon redactor; Hedqvist, 1967: 141, figs. 7D-E; Shenefelt, 1970: 194; Tobias, 1976b: 91. Ichneumon distensor Thunberg, 1822: 274. Syn. nov. Helcon lignator Lepeletier de St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1827: 41. Syn. nov. Helcon cylindricus Wesmael, 1835: 183. Syn. nov.

5 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 267 Helcon angustator was described from some females from Italy (donated by Sanvitali; Dahl Collection, Vienna) and a male given by Gravenhorst. There is no type material of this species, neither in the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, nor in the Gravenhorst Collection (Wroclaw). The only specimen under angustator is a female without head ("H. angulator v. E./H. tibialis?", "H. angustator β", "Type, Helcon angustator Nees, det. Papp. J., 1980, 9") and this cannot be a type specimen. In the original description no "var. j8" is mentioned, the labels are probably not written by Nees, and the specimen belongs to H. nunciator (Fabricius). As a result the types of H. angustator are considered to be lost. Of Ichneumon redactor Thunberg four males and two females are present in the Thunberg Collection; one female is designated lectotype (the female without label by Dr. A. Roman, who studied the Thunberg types), the other female is a paralectotype and has Roman's label "Helcon redactor Thbg." The four males are labelled paralectotypes and all specimens belong to angustator. Ichneumon distensor Thunberg is represented by two females, labelled "a" and "β", respectively, and they belong to two species. The specimen labelled "a" is here designated lectotype; it has the subbasal cell of fore wing glabrous and it is a typical angustator. The other specimen ("0") is a paralectotype; it has the subbasal cell setose, and belongs to nunciator. Helcon lignator Lepeletier de St. Fargeau & Audinet Serville belongs certainly to the Braconidae judging from the lengthy generic description. The remark by Fahringer (1939: 322) that it could belong to the Ichneumonidae is considered incorrect. The type series should be in the Paris Museum or in the Spinola Collection (Turin). I could not find any trace of the types in the Paris Museum during several visits and the Spinola Collection lacks material from these authors and belonging to the genus Helcon. Because of the reddish palpi H. tardator is excluded, by the size (about 15 mm) also H. claviventris and there remain H. angustator and H. nunciator. Helcon nunciator is most common in submontane areas ( m) and H. angustator is most common in lowland areas (below 700 m); because it was stated that lignator was common in the surroundings of Paris, lignator is most likely a synonym of angustator. In the Wesmael Collection (Brussels) under cylindricus three females and two males are present; however, the original description is based on one female only. One female was collected after publication ("1840 Jacobs"), the remaining two females differ by the sculpture of the second metasomal tergite. One female has the tergite largely smooth (only some indistinct sculpture basally), the other female has the basal three quarters of tergite

6 268 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) distinctly and rather coarsely sculptured. According to the original description ("finement rugueux vers la base") the latter female ("Helcon cylindricus mihi 9, det. C. Wesmael", "Type") is the holotype and labelled accordingly. The holotype has a short occipital flange and is a typical angustator. A neotype is here designated for Helcon angustator Nees, 1814: ("Museum Leiden, Holland (Gld.), Vierhouten, 18.VII.1968, J.T. Wiebes") and deposited in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden. Length of fore wing 8 mm, of body 11.4 mm. Head. Antennal segments 41, length of third segment 1.1 times fourth segment; length of third, fourth, and penultimate segments 3.4, 3.1, and 1.3 times their width, respectively; length of maxillary palp 1.4 times height of head; fourth segment of labial palp slender, more than of nunciator (cf. fig. 22); horn of frons hardly visible in lateral view of head (fig. 15); length of eye in dorsal view 1.4 times length of temple; maximum width of eye 1.8 times length of malar space; length of malar space 1.5 times basal width of mandible; length of occipital flange 0.6 times length of malar space (fig. 15); mandible somewhat twisted. Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma twice its height; propleuron (except posteriorly) flattened (fig. 18); propodeal carinae less protruding dorsally than in tardator; propodeum rather coarsely and densely reticulate-rugose (except narrowly anteriorly). Wings. Fore wing: subbasal cell largely glabrous, except a medial row of setae (fig. 33). Hind wing: marginal cell parallel-sided apically. Legs. Length of fore tarsus 1.5 times length fore tibia. Metasoma. Length of first tergite 1.9 times its apical width, parallelsided, largely densely rugose-reticulate, apically smooth, and its dorsal carinae weakly developed; second tergite rugose antero-laterally, coriaceous medially, and remainder largely smooth; length of ovipositor sheath 1.21 times fore wing. Colour. Black; antenna (except its apical sixth and annellus), palpi basally, tegula, pterostigma and most veins, dark brown; apical sixth of antenna and annellus, brown; humeral plate, palpi (except basally), legs largely, yellowish-brown; hind tibia and two basal segments of hind tarsus infuscated; wing membrane weakly infuscated, stronger near veins 1-M, cu-a and M + CU1 of fore wing. Distribution. Most common species of Helcon is lowland areas. Specimens seen from Belgium, *Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, France, *Hungary (ex Agrilus sulcicollis Lac), Italy (HC), *The Netherlands (Bergeijk-Welbosch (ex Quercus), Best (ex P. testaceus L.). Putten (G., ex Quercus infested by Phymatodes testaceus L. and Pyrrhidium sanguineum

7 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 269 (L.), Blaricum (ex Phymatodes in Quercus), Echt, 't Harde, Heelsum (ex Quercus infested by Phymatodes testaceus L.), Strijbeek, Vierhouten, Wageningen, Well (L.)), West Germany (ex Phymatodes testaceus L.; ex Tetropium gabrieli Weise; ex Obera pupillata Gyllenhal in Lonicera (HC)), ex Callidium variabile L.; ex Monochamus sp. (ZSM)), *Romania, Sweden, and Yugoslavia. According to literature North to Finland, East to Siberia, Japan and Korea, and South to Turkey. However, misidentifications occur frequently and Helcon yezonicum Watanabe, 1931 from Japan is incorrectly synonymized with this species (Hedqvist, 1967: 141, with redactor). H. yezonicum has base of third tergite sculptured, hind coxa and femur black, and antennal segments about 35. Biology. Parasite of Cerambycidae in Quercus and Lonicera. Helcon claviventris Wesmael (figs. 14, 23, 39) Helcon claviventris Wesmael, 1835: 184, fig. vi; Hedqvist, 1967: 141, figs. 7, Α C; Shenefelt, 1970: I could not find any type specimen in the Wesmael Collection (Brussels); three females are present but all are collected after the original publication ("Diest 1846" or "1844"). The specimens probably identified by Wesmael agree with the current interpretation. Additional specimens examined from England (Oxford (BMNH)), West Germany (ZSM) and Switzerland (ZSM). Helcon nunciator (Fabricius) comb. nov. (figs. 16, 19, 20, 22, 34) Ichneumon nunciator Fabricius, 1793: 166; Shenefelt, 1978: ("unplaced species"); Van Rossem, 1980: 98. Ophion nunciator; Fabricius, 1804: 134. Helcon pedalis Cresson, 1873: 85; Shenefelt, 1970: Syn. nov. Helcon femoralis Thomson, 1892: 1725; Shenefelt, 1970: 194 (synonym of redactor). Syn. nov. Under I. nunciator in the Fabricius Collection (Copenhagen) are eight specimens, three Ichneumonidae (one is a Glypta spec.) and five Braconidae. The Braconidae fit the original description best and a female is here designated lectotype. It belongs to a cryptic species of the genus Helcon, only recognized in the past by Thomson.

8 270 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) The lectotype of H. nunciator lacks the antenna (44 segments in the female paralectotype) but is in a fair condition. The length of the malar space is 1.4 times basal width of mandible, the maximum width of the eye is 1.3 times length of malar space, occipital flange about as long as basal width of mandible, length of body 11.3 mm, of fore wing 7.8 mm, and of ovipositor sheath 1.15 times fore wing (1.21 times in paralectotype), length of fore tarsus 1.4 times fore tibia, length of first tergite 1.6 times its apical width, strongly rugose, and its dorsal carinae only basally (fig. 20), lateral propodeal carinae rather lamelliform in posterior half of propodeum, whole second tergite coriaceous, hind tibia completely reddish, and labial palp yellow, its third and fourth segments rather robust (fig. 22). The types of H. nunciator (lectotype, cf paralectotypes) originate from Germany. In the Thomson Collection (Lund) are 14 specimens under femoralis, all belonging to H. nunciator. Two females are excluded because the label has a different handwriting and is probably added later; there remain six females and six males. One female ("Norl."; with nearly whole hind tibia, femur (except base) and tarsus dark brown) is here designated lectotype. It has 43 antennal segments, length of body mm, of fore wing 8.2 mm, length of ovipositor sheath 1.1 times fore wing, length of malar space 1.2 times basal width of mandible, maximum width of eye 1.6 times length of malar space, subbasal cell of fore wing moderately setose (cf. fig. 34), length of first tergite 1.4 times its apical width, and second (and base of third) tergite largely coriaceous. The remaining specimens are labelled paralectotypes and originate from Sweden. Specimens examined from * Austria (Aschbach (1400 m; RMNH), Oberinntal ( m; BMNH), Langenfeld (1100 m; BMNH), Mayrhofen), Czechoslovakia (ZSM), *Italy (Bolzano, m; Castrozzia, 1440 m (ZSM)), *The Netherlands (Wageningen; RMNH), Sweden (BMNH), *U.S.A. ("Hudson Bay"), West Germany (Heidelberg; ex Pronocera spec. (HC)). Parasite of Cerambycidae in Picea. Note. The Nearctic Helcon pedalis Cresson, 1873 is extremely similar to H. nunciator; the only difference found is the infuscated hind femur. However, I have seen two females from Sweden (BMNH) which have also dark hind femora. Therefore H. pedalis Cresson, 1873 is considered to be a junior synonym of H. nunciator.

9 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 271 Helcon tardator Nees (figs. 1-13, 17, 21, 24) Helcon tardator Nees, 1814: , figs. 6a-d; Lindemans, 1919: ix (report from The Netherlands (Ommen, from Cerambycid larvae in Pinus, and Valkenburg) but needs reconfirmation); Hedqvist, 1967: 141, figs. 7F-G; (without synonyms); Shenefelt, 1970: ; Tobias, 1976: 91. Mr. A. Taeger (Eberswalde) kindly informed me that some types of Nees survived in the Berlin Museum; the remainder of the Braconidae of the Nees collection was deliberately destroyed in the 1880's in Bonn. One of very few specimens which survived is the figured specimen of H. tardator (Nees, 1814, fig. 4-6) with mandibles prepared out. The female specimen (as the male he described) originates from Sickershausen (West Germany, a farm-estate near Göttingen) and is labelled: " , Germania" (handwritten recent label), "VIII Helcon 1" (see Nees, 1814: 216, actually 2), "tardator f. 29. Jun. 08" (old handwritten label). The female is here designated lectotype. According to the original description the palpi are piceous; the length of the fore wing is 10.1 mm, of body 13.3 mm, length of ovipositor sheath 1.05 times fore wing, length of malar space 1.4 times basal width of mandible, maximum width of eye 1.1 times length of malar space (fig. 17), length of occipital flange 0.8 times basal width of mandible, length of first tergite 1.4 times its apical width, robust (figs. 24), propodeal carinae rather protruding and lamelliform, second tergite smooth and its medial length 1.4 times medial length of third tergite. According to the original description it was captured on a Quercus-trunk. Specimens examined from Czechoslovakia (ex Clytus sp. in Quercus robur L.), France, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands (Apeldoorn, 't Harde, Heerde, Hoog-Soeren, "Limburg" (ex Picea spec), Nunspeet), Sweden (BMNH), Switzerland, and West Germany (ex Plagionotus arcuatus L. (BMNH), ex Monochamus spec. (ZSM)). Reported from Sweden to Algeria, west to England, east to Poland, Romania and Korea, south to Turkey and Adzerbaidjan (U.S.S.R.). Parasite of Cerambycidae in coniferous and deciduous trees.

10 272 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) Helconidea Viereck Helconidea Viereck, 1914: 67. Type-species: Helcon aequator Nees, 1814 (= Pimpla dentator Fabricius, 1804) (by original designation). KEY TO EUROPEAN SPECIES OF THE GENUS HELCONIDEA 1. Vein 3-SR of fore wing much shorter than vein r (fig. 48); vein SRI of fore wing sinuate (fig. 48); second submarginal cell nearly subtriangular (fig. 48); propodeum rather weakly sculptured miroshnikovi (Tobias) - Vein 3-SR of fore wing distinctly longer than vein r (figs. 35, 37, 51); vein SRI of fore wing straight (fig. 37); second submarginal cell distinctly quadrangular (figs. 37, 51); propodeum variable 2 2. Mesosternal sulcus obsolescent or narrow and more or less narrowly crenulate (fig. 57); hind coxa yellowish; malar space finely and densely rugulose; propodeum rather weakly sculptured; hind tibia usually largely blackish or infuscated dorsally; hind femur comparatively slender and its tooth more distally situated (fig. 36); occipital flange comparatively narrow, more than 3 times longer than wide; dorsal carinae of first metasomal tergite weakly developed; vein r-m of fore wing vertical (fig. 35); scutellum punctulate dentator (Fabricius) - Mesosternal sulcus deep and widely crenulate (fig. 54); hind coxa (largely) black; malar space coarsely vermiculate rugose (fig. 55); propodeum (very) coarsely sculptured; hind tibia brownish; hind femur robust and its tooth more medially situated (fig. 38); occipital flange comparatively wide, its length about 3 times its width or shorter (fig. 55); dorsal carinae of first tergite strong, distinctly elevated above basal half of tergite; vein r-m and scutellum variable 3 3. Scutellum coarsely rugose and protruding dorsally (figs. 49, 50); vein r-m of fore wing strongly inclivous (fig. 37); ovipositor sheath times hind tibia ruspator (Linnaeus) - Scutellum only remotely punctate with some rugulae (fig. 53), and not or slightly protruding dorsally (figs. 52); vein r-m of fore wing (sub)vertical (fig. 51); length of ovipositor sheath about 1.8 times hind tibia meridionalis spec. nov.

11 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 273 Helconidea dentator (Fabricius) comb. nov. (figs ) Pimpla dentator Fabricius, 1804: 114. Helconidea dentator; Hedqvist, 1967: 140; Shenefelt, 1970: Wroughtonia dentator; Watanabe, 1972: 5; Tobias, 1976: 90, figs. 27: 2, 4. Helcon aequator Nees, 1814: 219 (type probably lost, not in the Gravenhorst Collection). Helcon rugator Ratzeburg, 1848: 67. Helcon armator Marshall, 1897: Syn. nov. In the Fabricius Collection (Copenhagen) under dentator two specimens are present. One male with hind femur simple ("variât mas..." of Fabricius, 1804) and belonging to Helcon tardator. The other specimen is a female with dentate hind femur; this is obviously the specimen from Moravia upon which the main part of the original description is based. This female (without original labels) is here designated lectotype. The condition is fair, but the body is partly mouldy and ovipositor (and its sheath) partly broken off. Length of fore wing 9.9 mm, of body 12 mm; length of remaining part of ovipositor about 1.1 times fore wing length. The lectotype originates from Czechoslovakia (Moravia). The holotype Helcon armator Marshall is deposited in the Naturhistorisches Museum Bern and has been examined. It is labelled "Marshall det.", "2369", "3.vi.83, Bern", "n.sp.", "Helcon armator Marsh." It is a rather pale (bleached?) male of H. dentator with the hind tibia, hind tarsus and antenna basally brown. According to the original description the number of antennal segments is 54, but in the type the antennae are incomplete and the actual number was most likely 44 instead of 54. The maximum number of antennal segments of the male of H. dentator observed is 47. Specimens examined from Austria ( m), *Belgium (BMNH), Czechoslovakia (750 m), *Denmark, Finland (BMNH), *France (BMNH; St. Genis Laval, ex Tetropium fuscum F. (HC)), Hungary, Italy (1000 m), Norway (BMNH), *Romania (ZSM), Sweden (BMNH), Switzerland, and West Germany. Reported from Europe (England, north to Finland and south to Italy (but not from The Netherlands, Belgium and France) and East Palaearctic. Parasite of various Cerambycidae, especially Tetropium spp. The types of Helcon rugator Ratzeburg are all lost, however, this species seems to be based only upon larger and more sculptured specimens of H. dentator. Both H. dentator and H. rugator have been reared from Tetropium luridum (Linnaeus).

12 274 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) Helconidea meridionalis spec. nov. (figs ) Material examined. 19, (RMNH), holotype: "France, Isère, Tréminis, 1100 m, 20.vii.1985, A. Teunissen" (wings damaged). Paratypes, 6 cfcf, all from thecsiro Sirex Project B.M , (BMNH, RMNH): 2cfcf, Yugoslavia, Belasica, 1 & 2.7.(19)65, Frank Wilson; 2cTcf, S.E. France, Turini, 30.6 & 8.7(19)66; lcf, Greece, Pertovli; (19)70; lcf, Switzerland, Chatillon, 23.5(19)67. Holotype, female, length of body 9.1 mm. Head. Antennal segments 33, length of third segment 1.1 times fourth segments; length of third, fourth, and penultimate segments 3.7, 3.5, and 1.3 times their width, respectively; length of maxillary palp 1.2 times height of head; fourth segment of labial palp slender; horn of frons hardly visible in lateral view of head; length of eye in dorsal view 0.9 times temple; maximum width of eye 1.6 times length of malar space; face and dorsal half of clypeus coarsely rugose; ventral half of clypeus smooth; malar space coarsely vermiculate rugose (fig. 55); frons crest-shaped elevated and rugose laterally, medially partly smooth, concave and with large lamelliform horn; vertex largely remotely punctate; mandibles somewhat twisted apically; length of malar space equal to basal width of mandible; occipital flange wide (fig. 55), its length 0.7 times length of malar space. Mesosoma. Length of mesosoma 1.6 times its height; propleuron moderately convex, punctate, but rugose anteriorly; mesosternal sulcus widely crenulate and deep posteriorly (fig. 54); precoxal sulcus widely and rather irregularly rugose; mesoscutum normally convex (separating it from the Japanese H. planidorsum (Watanabe, 1952)); scutellum remotely punctate, with some rugulae (fig. 53) and not or slightly protruding posteriorly (fig. 52); propodeal carinae strongly protruding posteriorly, surface of propodeum and metapleuron coarsely reticulate. Wings. Fore wing (partly absent): subbasal cell largely glabrous, but with cluster of setae near cu-a; cu-a vertical, postfurcal; 1-CU1 widened; r-m (sub)vertical (paratype: fig. 51); 3-SR longer than r. Hind wing: cu-a rather inclivous (fig. 51). Legs. Length of fore tarsus 1.3 times fore tibia; length of femur, tibia and basitarsus of hind leg 3.1 (without teeth), 10.0, and 7.1 times their width, respectively; length of outer and inner hind spur 0.3 and 0.2 times hind basitarsus, respectively; hind femur robust, with its tooth rather far removed from apex of femur (fig. 56), and largely rugose ventrally. Metasoma. Length of first tergite 1.7 times its apical width, distinctly gradually widened posteriorly, reticulate-rugose, but medially somewhat

13 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 275 depressed and largely smooth, its dorsal carinae strong and distinctly elevated basally, reaching basal 0.9 of tergite; second tergite distinctly rugose sublaterally, but medially and posteriorly smooth; length of ovipositor sheath 1.8 times length of hind tibia. Colour. Black; palpi, legs (except coxae and trochanters) brown; tarsus pale brown; hind coxa, tegulae and trochanters black(ish); five basal antennal segments, fore and middle coxae and trochanters dark brown; remainder of antenna black; wing membrane somewhat infuscated; ptero- and parastigma (paratypes) and most veins dark brown to blackish. Male. Very similar to holotype; scapus, pedicellus, hind trochanter and trochantellus dark brown or black; antennal segments 37 (1), 38 (2), 39 (1), or 40 (1); length of fore wing mm, of body 8-11 mm; length of first metasomal tergite about 1.6 times its apical width. Note. Most likely H. meridionalis is the sister-species of H. ruspator and has a more southern distribution (S. France, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Greece) than H. ruspator (N. and NW. Europe, northern part of C. Europe). The biology is unknown. Helconidea miroshnikovi (Tobias) comb. nov. (fig. 49) Wroughtonia miroshnikovi Tobias, 1986: 151, fig Described from the Krasnodarskij district (USSR) and reared from Rhopalopus clavipes F. (Cerambycidae). Helconidea ruspator (Linnaeus) comb. nov. (figs ) Ichneumon ruspator Linnaeus, 1758: 565. Helconidea ruspaton Hedqvist, 1967: 138, figs. 4: A, B; Shenefelt, 1970: Wroughtonia ruspator; Watanabe, 1972: 6; Tobias, 1976: 90, fig. 27: 3, 5; Capek et al., 1982: 337 (new host record). Helcon dentator Nees, 1814: 220 (nee H. dentator (Fabricius, 1804)). Specimens examined from Austria, *Belgium (Moulin Hideux), England (BMNH; flying around log with Strangalia aurulenta F.), East Germany, France, The Netherlands (Aayen (ex Populus), Cadier (ex Sambucus), de Dellen (Gld.), Epe, Neer (ex Betula), Veenhuizen) and *West Germany

14 276 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) (Kirchhorst, Hannover, on Betula with Strangalia quadrifasciata L. (ZSM)). Reported from Europe and the East Palaearctic region. Parasites of various Cerambycidae in deciduous and coniferous trees. Wroughtonia Cameron sensu stricto Wroughtonia Cameron, 1899: 56. Type-species: Wroughtonia cornuta Cameron, 1899 (nec Helcon cornutus Cameron, 1886 (by monotypy). Not renamed because it may be a synonym of Helcon unicornis Turner, 1918, which has second tergite more sculptured (rugulose) and of Duportia cincticornis Kieffer, Mr. T. Huddleston kindly informed me that the type of H. unicornis has the scutellum protruding subposteriorly (cf. fig. 28) and possesses a curious double tubercle on the frons. Syn.: Duportia Kieffer, Synonymized by Watanabe (1972: 3), and most likely correct. The types (3cf cf ) of the type-species (Duportia cincticornis Kieffer, 1921, by monotypy) could not be found in the Paris Museum or in the Kieffer Collection and are considered to be lost. The aberrant feature of W. cornuta Cameron (the protruding scutellum) is not mentioned in the original description (Kieffer, 1921: 3). The synonymy of Helconidea Viereck, 1914 with Wroughtonia Cameron, 1899 (Watanabe, 1972: 3) is not acceptable because of some remarkable differences between both genera, e.g. the marginal cell of the hind wing is strongly widened and the different position of the occipital carina (could not be checked in type-species because the head is missing) in Wroughtonia. The holotype of W. cornuta is in the Hope Department, Oxford and is damaged; head and hind legs (except coxa) are missing. It is labelled "Wroughtonia cornutus (sic!) Cam., Type, Khasia [= India]". Length of fore wing 8.0 mm, propleuron flat or slightly concave (fig. 31); pronope deep, large, triangular and near anterior margin of pronotum (fig. 27); scutellum protruding posteriorly (fig. 28) and widely crenulate posteriorly (fig. 29); laterope deep and large, in wide glymmna; hind coxa comparatively slender and strongly protruding antero-ventrally (fig. 32); length of fore tarsus 1.3 times fore tibia; apex of fore tibia with wide triangular lamella (fig. 30); wings: fig. 25; subbasal cell of fore wing sparsely setose (fig. 26); first metasomal tergite pale, its length 1.3 times it apical width; second tergite with some punctures only; length of ovipositor sheath 1.34 times fore wing. In Europe Wroughtonia contains only one species: W. spinator and there are two additional species in Japan.

15 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 277 KEY TO PALAEARCTIC SPECIES OF THE GENUS WROUGHTONIA 1. Whole hind femur and coxa (except base) reddish-brown; complete precoxal sulcus coarsely and widely reticulate-rugose; hind coxa only punctulate; first metasomal tergite slender, parallel-sided, its length about 1.5 times its apical width (fig. 44); (Europe, N. Africa,?Japan) spinator (Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville) - At least basal half of hind femur, and hind coxa black; precoxal sulcus only punctate; hind coxa punctate; first tergite more robust, more or less widened apically, its length about 1.3 times its apical width (figs. 42, 47); (Japan) 2 2. Vein SRI of hind wing straight basally (fig. 40); length of vein 3-SR of fore wing about 1.5 times vein r and about 1.2 times vein 2-SR (fig. 40); vein cu-a of fore wing comparatively oblique (fig. 40); trochantellus and apical half of hind femur black; tooth of hind femur more pronounced (fig. 41) cornuta (Cameron) - Vein SRI of hind wing distinctly curved basally (fig. 45); length of vein 3- SR of fore wing about equal to length of vein r and about 1.6 times vein 3-SR (fig. 45); trochantellus and apical half of hind femur reddish; tooth of hind femur less pronounced (fig. 46).. mikagei Hedqvist & Togashi Wroughtonia cornuta (Cameron) stat. nov. (figs ) Helcon cornutus Cameron, 1886: 270; Shenefelt, 1970: 201 (as synonym of S. spinator); Watanabe, 1972: 5 (id.). The holotype (from Fukui, Japan) has been examined ("Type", "B.M. Type Hym. 3.C.884", "Helcon cornutus Cam. Type, Fukui, Japan, Trans. N.H. Glasg ") and is certainly different from W. spinator. Wroughtonia mikagei Hedqvist & Togashi (figs ) Wroughtonia mikagei Hedqvist & Togashi, 1979: 95-96, figs.'1-11. Known from type-series (Japan, Honshu, Mt. Joo, near Kanazawa) only. Reared from Brachyclytus singularis Kraatz (Cerambycidae).

16 278 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) Wroughtonia spinator (Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville) (figs ) Helcon spinator Lepeletier de St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1827: 41. Helconidea spinator, Shenefelt, 1970: 201. Wroughtonia spinator; Watanabe, 1972: 4-5. Helcon annulicornis Nees, 1834: 231. Helconidea annulicornis; Shenefelt, 1970: A species easily recognizable by its colour; specimens examined from "British Isles" (BMNH), France, *Italy (HC), *The Netherlands (Bemelen (from pole), Ede (Gld.), Ginkel, Putten (Gld.) and Krachtighuizen (near Putten)) and West Germany, (ex?anaglyptus spec. in Carpinus (ZSM)). Reported from Algeria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland; the report from Japan needs reconfirmation. Parasite of Cerambycidae. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my sincere thanks to the following persons, who allowed me to study specimens or supplied valuable information: C. Besuchet (Genève), R. Danielsson (Lund), Ε. Haeselbarth (München), P. Dessart (Brussels), T. Huddleston (London), S. Jonsson (Uppsala), M. Kak (Wroclaw), F. Koch (Berlin), G. Nordlander (Uppsala), P. Passerin d'entreves (Turin), B. Petersen (Copenhagen), E.A.M. Speijer (Den Haag), A. Taeger (Eberswalde) and H.D. Volkart (Bern). The study was much facilitated by the series of European Helconini donated by C. J. Zwakhals (Arkel) and the information provided by T. Huddleston. REFERENCES Achterberg, C. van, A revision of the new tribe Brulleiini (Hym.: Braconidae). - Contr. Am. ent. Inst. 20: , figs Cameron, P., On some Hymenoptera (chiefly undescribed) from Japan and the Pacific. - Proc. & Trans, nat. hist. Soc. Glasgow 1: Cameron, P Hymenoptera orientalia or contributions to a knowledge of the Hymenoptera of the Oriental zoological region. VIII. - Mem. Manchr. lit. phil. Soc. 43: Capek, M., J. Hladil & J. Sedivy, Zoznam blanokridlych parazitor (Hym.) dochovanych ζ hmyzích hostitelov. VI. - Ent. Probí. Bratislava 17: Cresson, E.T., Description of North American Hymenoptera. - Can. Ent. 5: Fabricius, J.C., Entomologia systematica, 2: 1-519, Hafniae. Fabricius, J.C., Systema Piezatorum: 1-439, Brunsvigae. Hedqvist, K.-J., Notes on Helconini (Ichneumonoidea, Braconidae, Helconinae). Part 1. - Ent. Tidskr. 88: , figs Hedqvist, K.-J. & J. Togashi, A new species of Wroughtonia Cameron from Japan (Hym.: Braconidae). - Trans. Shikoku ent. Soc. 14: 95-97, figs

17 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 279 Kieffer, J.J., Sur divers Hyménoptères destructeurs des Cérambycides nuisibles au Caféier et au Bambou. Bull. agr. inst. Scient. Saigon 3: Lepeletier de St. Fargeau, A.L.M. & J.G. Aedinet Serville, Helcon. Encyclopédie méthodique, dictionnaire des Insectes 10: 41. Lindemans, J., In: Wetenschappelijke mededeelingen, Verslag van de 52ste Wintervergadering der Ν.E.V. Tijdschr. Ent. 62: ix. Linnaeus, C, Systema naturae, per régna tria naturae secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis., Ed. 10, 1: 1 823, Holmiae. Marshall, T.A., Braconidae. In: E. André, Species des Hyménoptères d'europe et d'algérie, 5 bis: , pis Nees von Esenbeck, C.G., Ichneumonides adsciti, in genera et Famílias divisi a Dre Nees ab Esenbeck. Mag. Ges. Naturf. Fr. Berlin 6: , figs Ratzeburg, J.T.C., Di Ichneumonen der Forstinsekten in forstlicher und entomologischer Beziehung; ein Anhang zur Abbildung und Beschreibung der Forstinsekten, pt. 3: 1 238, figs Berlin. Rossem, G. van, A revision of some Western Palaearctic Oxytorine genera (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Spixiana suppl. 4: Shenefelt, R.D., Braconidae, pt. 3. Hym. Cat. (nov. ed.) 5: Shenefelt, R.D., Braconidae, pt. 10. Hym. Cat. (nov. ed.) 15: Thomson, C.G., XLIV. Bidrag till Braconidernas kännedom. Opusc. Ent. 16: Thunberg, CP., Ichneumonidea, insecta Hymenoptera, illustrata. Mem. Akad. St. Petersburg 8: Tobias, V.l., Brakonidy Kavkaza (Hym., Braconidae). Opred. Faune SSSR 110: 1 287, pis Tobias, V.l. et al., Opredelitel nasekomyck evropeiskoi tsasmi SSSR vol. 3, Hymenoptera, part 4. Opred. Faune SSR 145: 1 501, figs Viereck, H.L., Type species of the genera of ichneumon flies. Bull. U.S. nat. Mus. 83: Watanabe, C, A revision of the Helconini of Japan and a review of the Helconine genera of the World (Hym., Braconidae). Ins. Matsum. 35: 1 18, figs Wesmael, C, Monographie des Braconides de Belgique. Nouv. Mém. Acad. Sei. R. 11:

18 280 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) Figs. 1-13, Helcon tardator Nees, 9, Netherlands, Nunspeet. 1, habitus, lateral aspect; 2, ovipositor; 3, apex of fore tibia and spur; 4, antenna; 5, wings; 6, apex of antenna; 7, apical part of subbasal cell of fore wing; 8, head, frontal aspect; 9, head, dorsal aspect; 10, hind leg; 11, first and second metasomal tergites; 12, outer hind claw; 13, mesosoma, dorsal aspect. 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13: scale-line (= 1 x); 3,7: 2 x; 6,12: 5 x; 8,9: 1.2 x.

19 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 281 Figs. 14, 23, Helcon claviventris Wesmael, 9, Austria, Piesting. Figs. 15, 18, Helcon angustator Nees, 9, neotype. Figs. 16, 19, 20, 22, Helcon nunciator (Fabricius), 9, lectotype. Figs. 17, 21, 24, Helcon tardator Nees, 9, lectotype. 14, apex of hind wing; 15-17, head, lateral aspect; 18, 19, propleuron, lateral aspect; 20, 23, 24, first metasomal tergite, dorsal aspect; 21, 22, palpi. 14, 17, 23, 24: 0.8 x; 15, 16, 18-20: scale-line (= 1 χ ); 21: 1.7 χ ; 22: 2 χ.

20 282 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) Figs , Wroughtonia cornuta Cameron, 1899 (nee 1866), 9, holotype. Fig. 33, Helcon angustator (Nees), 9, neotype. Fig. 34, Helcon nunciator (Fabricius), 9, Austria, Aschbach. 25, wings; 26, 33, 34, apical part of subbasal cell of fore wing; 27, pronotum, dorsal aspect; 28, scutellum, lateral aspect; 29, scutellum, dorsal aspect; 30, apex of fore tibia and spur; 31, propleuron, lateral aspect; 32, hind coxa, inner aspect. 25: scale-line (= 1 χ ); 26, 27, 31, 32: 2 χ ; 28, 29: 3 χ; 33, 34: 1.5 χ.

21 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 283 Figs , Helconidea dentator (Fabricius), 9, lectotype. Figs , Helconidea ruspator (Linnaeus), 9, Netherlands, Cadier. Fig. 39, Helcon claviventris Wesmael, 9, origin unknown. 35, 37, wings; 36, 38, 39, hind femur, lateral aspect. 35, 37: scale line (= 1 x); 36, 38, 39: 1.5 χ.

22 284 ZOOLOGISCHE MEDEDELINGEN 61 (1987) Figs , Wroughtonia cornuta (Cameron, 1886), 9, holotype. Figs , Wroughtonia spinator (Lepeletier & Audinet-Serville), 9, Netherlands, Ede. Figs , Wroughtonia mikagei Hedqvist & Togashi, after Hedqvist & Togashi, , 45, wings; 41, 43, 46, hind femur, lateral aspect; 42, 44, 47, first metasomal tergite, dorsal aspect. 40: scale-line (= 1 x); 41-44: 1.5 χ.

23 VAN ACHTERBERG: EUROPEAN HELCONINI 285 Fig. 48, Helconidea miroshnikovi Tobias, distal part of fore wing. Figs. 49, 50, Helconidea ruspator (Linnaeus), 9, Netherlands, Well. Figs , Helconidea meridionalis spec. nov., 9, holotype, but 51 of cf, paratype, Yugoslavia, Belasica. Fig. 57, Helconidea dentator (Fabricius), 9, Czechoslovakia, Maluzina; 49, 53, scutellum, dorsal aspect; 50, 52, scutellum, lateral aspect; 51, wings; 54, 57, mesosternal sulcus; 55, malar space and occipital flange; 56, hind femur, outer lateral aspect; 48, after Tobias, 1986; 49, 50, 52-57, scale-line (= 1 x), 51: 0.4 x.